PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT-II

Interview Management Skills

 PREVIEW

– Preparation.
– Facing the interview.
– Closing the interview.
 A Successful Interview
• You have the tools to always have the advantage in an
interview.
• You should always be able to communicate your strengths
whether you are asked or not.
• You want to be perceived as adding the most value to the
organization.
• Good preparation requires time, thought,
organization, and practice.
• The interview is a dialogue.
• This is an opportunity to exercise power.
• You decide what you reveal about yourself
and how you present and deliver the
information.
• Communication is both Verbal and Non-Verbal
• What you say is only seven percent of your
communication -- word choice.
• How you say the words accounts for 38%
of your communication -- vocal tone, inflection, rate,
volume and pitch.
• Non-verbals account for 55% of your communication --
posture, gestures, facial expressions, and body
movements.
 The “Magic Pills”

• Eye contact
• Smiling
• Handshake
• Greeting
• Posture
 12 x 12 x 12 Theory
• People judge you first from 12 feet away;
• Then they judge you from 12 inches away;
• And then they judge you based on the first
12 words out of your mouth.
You have only one objective in an interview:

To convince the interviewer that you can

successfully do the job and become a desirable
part of the organization.
 Four things you should do

• Prepare well prior to the interview.

– Research information about the company using contacts, the Internet, or library
resources

– Review possible interview questions

– Practice interviewing

• Dress professionally – a business suit is always a “best bet.”

• Arrive early – ten to fifteen minutes is sufficient.

• Be prepared to ask at least two questions.

 Three things you should know

• You must know exactly what you want to do – anything less is lack of focus.

• You must know about the organization and the field in which it operates,
how the organization is structured, its major activities, and its plans for the
future. This information is usually obtained from the company’s website or
through the Office of Career Development.

• You must know specifically what you can do for the organization.
 Before the Interview
• Research the company.
• Look at the company website.
• Look at the parent company’s website.
• Review business newspapers and magazines.
• Check the local library and on-line resources for news articles.
• Review a competitor’s brochure or website.
• Check with professional organizations.
• Talk to employees of the company.
• Company Industry and Product Line(s).

– Major products, brands, and services

– Products/services in greatest demand
– New technologies impacting the industry
– Basic trends and growth in the industry
– Standing in the industry
– Major competitors
• Financial Health
– How is the company doing?
– Is the company growing?
– Is the company in the midst of layoffs or cutbacks?
– Does the company have a history of layoffs?
 Convincing the interviewer..
To convince the interviewer you can successfully do the job and become a
desirable part of the organization.
• Prepare a list of the points about yourself that you want to cover in the
interview:
– Accomplishments – on the job or personal
– Applicable education and training
– Important prior job or internship experience
– Personal traits
– Professional skills

• Commit these to memory. They are absolutely essential items you must
discuss
Write down and memorize two or three success stories or accomplishments:

• Problems you met and solved

• Recognized successes and accomplishments

• Earned promotions, recognition, or awards

• Innovative approaches, creativity in finding solutions

• Cost saving ideas and results achieved

• Have these ready for use at appropriate times during the interview.
 The Receptionist and the Secretary

• Greet everyone you meet with a friendly smile and respect.

• Research indicates that two-thirds of bosses say that the

opinions of their receptionists and secretaries influence
them.
 Components of an Interview

The typical interview has four components.

1. Opening, rapport building, and agenda setting.

2. Interpersonal, chemistry building and giving information about yourself.
3. Organizational fit and asking questions of the interviewer.
4. Closing.
 Types of Interviews

• The most common types of interviews are.

» Behavioral Interviews
» Competency Interviews
» Group or Panel Interviews
» Telephone Interviews
 Behavioral Interviews

• Obtain information about how you behaved in prior

situations to assess your likely future performance.
• Avoid vague and abstract answers.

• Lead off questions with:

– Give me an example of …
– Describe a situation when …
 Behavioral Interviews

Follow a pattern:
– pre-planned, structured and consistent
– focused
– directed towards seeking specific information
– open-ended
 Answering..
• Use the STAR technique
– STAR is an acronym for situation, task, action, and
results.
– Used to create accomplishments and success
stories.
 The STAR Technique

• STAR is an acronym for …

– Situation
Describe the situation.
– Task
What were you required to do?
– Action
What action did you take?
– Results
What were the results of your actions?
 Five Popular Behavior-Based Questions
• Give me a specific example of a time when you sold your
supervisor or professor on an idea or concept.
(Shows negotiation and persuasive skills)

• Describe the system you use for keeping track of multiple

projects.
(Shows organization and prioritizing skills)

• Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative

solution to a challenge your company or class was facing.
(Shows creativity and imagination)
• Describe a specific problem you solved for your
employer or professor.
(Shows problem-solving and decision-making skills)

• Describe a time when you handled a disgruntled

customer.
(Shows communication and customer service skills)
 TOP TEN NEGATIVE FACTORS
EVALUATED BY INTERVIEWERS

• Poor personal appearance

• Lack of planning for career – no purpose, goals, or focus

• Lack of confidence and poise – nervousness

• Overemphasis on compensation as the deciding factor

• Making excuses for unfavorable events in work history

• Lack of tact, maturity, and courtesy – overbearing or egotistical
behavior

• Condemnation of past employers

• Failure to look the interviewer in the eye

• Limp handshake

• Failure to appreciate the value of experience

 SOME DOs AND DON’Ts
CONCERNING INTERVIEWING

DO
• Carry extra copies of your resume and copies of your references.

• Greet the interviewer by last name and be sincerely glad to meet him or her.

• Look the interviewer in the eye.

• Wait to be offered a seat before sitting down.

• Conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job.

DON’T
• Chew gum, smoke, or eat.

• Lie or exaggerate.

• Answer with a simple “yes” or “no.” Give examples that help

portray your point.

• Inquire about salary or other benefits during the first interview.

• Make derogatory remarks about your last or present employer.

 Beginning the interview

• Time is limited (often only 30 minutes). You want to

make your points. If the interviewer continues with small
talk after the “warm-up” period, swing the conversation
into your skills and accomplishments as quickly as you
can.

• If it gets stressful, remain clam, patient, reasonable, and

gracious.
 During the interview
• Minimize time on non productive questions and answers.
• When you make a point, stop. Try not to ramble on,
especially when trying to fill a silence.

• Watch for the interviewer’s cues, including gestures,

expressions, remarks, and body language for feedback.
• Listen actively and carefully.
 Ending the interview

• Summarize your strongest qualifications for the job in a brief final statement.

• Express your enthusiasm for working with the organization. If you really want
the job, tell them! Many candidates don’t do this; employers remember the
person who sincerely and enthusiastically asks for the job.

• Thank the interviewer for an interesting, informative interview.

• Make sure both of you agree on what the next step will be.
 After the interview
• Write down the names of the people you met and any other information you
learned. Don’t trust this to memory – it is vital that you have everything correct,
including the spelling of their names. The easiest way to do this is by asking for a
business card.

• Note what strengths and weaknesses about yourself came out in the interview,
and what went well and what didn’t. This can help in future interviews and will aid
in writing the thank you letter.

• You must, within 24 hours after the interview, write a thank you letter/mail to the
person or persons who interviewed you. Unless you go back for further interviews,
this is your last chance to sell yourself to the organization. You should briefly cover
your strong points in the thank you letter.
Thank you